Watch Hill

Watch Hill is a district in Westerly, which is a town in Rhode Island. Watch Hill is a wealthy, summer tourist district comprised of two main streets. Most of the homes are summer mansions. In the winter, almost all of Watch Hill shuts down, apart from two stores.

Understand

If you're not planning on staying in Watch Hill, the district makes a perfect day trip with shopping, restaurants, beaches, and the historic carousel. Many people from Florida to North Carolina take their yacht to Watch Hill and sleep on their yacht, rather than staying in a hotel in town.

History

Watch Hill sits at the southwestern point of Washington County on a peninsula that stretches out into Block Island sound. Watch Hill and Napatree Point form ‘little Narragansett Bay’. This small bay offers excellent protection from strong currents, and provides a harbor where many sailboats and yachts moor and dock. On clear days, both Fishers Island and Long Island NY, can be seen to the South of Napatree Point.

Watch Hill was occupied in the 17th century by the Nianticks, a part of the Narragansett Native American tribe. Watch Hill was used as a watch point in the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War by Europeans, which is how Watch Hill got its name. Napatree Point was once used as a military installation by the U.S. military, and an abandoned cement fort can be found at the end of Napatree.

In 1882 the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations purchased Watch Hill from the remaining Nianticks for $5,000.

Primarily a summer vacation area, due to the pristine beaches, Watch Hill is known for its mansions. Aside from the breathtaking scenery, Watch Hill was once a hideout for Albert Einstein and Isadora Duncan.

Get in

By plane

• Westerly Airport, 56 Airport Road, +1 401 596-2357, Even though it does have its own airport code, don't expect flights to leave from this airport to leave for big cities like Las Vegas any time soon. It's more of a private airport, with scheduled trips to Block Island as well as avionic related sales and maintenance. It also has its own association which is dedicated to the preservation and development of the airport as a resource to the community as well as the region.

By train

• Amtrak, 14 Railroad Avenue, Westerly, +1 401 596-2335, Unfortunately for travelers, the train station is not located near any bus stops. Due to this, upon arrival one must either wait to get picked up, take a taxi to get around, or just walk to their desired location.

By boat

• Watch Hill Boat Yard Inc., 13 Pasadena Avenue, +1 401 348-8148
• Watch Hill Municipal Docks, +1 401 596-7807

Get around

Summer parking is a hassle in Watch Hill. There is a limited amount of two-hour parking along Bay Street, but other than that non-Rhode Island residents cannot park on any other streets; they must park in selected parking lots for a varied fee, but usually a $20 fee on the weekend and a $10 fee during the week.

See

Watch Hill Lighthouse

• Watch Hill Light House, 14 Lighthouse Road, ☏ +1 401 596-7761. This is a beautiful place to visit! There is no parking at the light house, but there is parking in town, a 15-minute walk away. The light house is a nice place to visit in the winter, too. There is a great view of all three Watch Hill beaches and a view of the Connecticut coastline. If you don't mind breaking a few rules, you can risk driving on the private road to the light house, which passes through a small neighborhood of mansions. Drive slowly on this road, however, because it is only one lane and residents and visitors often walk here. 

The lighthouse in Watch Hill was built not to guide ships at sea, but to warn residents of a naval attack. The original lighthouse was operational through the French and Indian war, and it is believed that the main tower was destroyed in a storm in 1781. The 35-foot-tall light tower was rebuilt as an order of congress and its operation began again in 1808. By the 1850s much of the wooden structure of the lighthouse and innkeeper's residence were rotting away. It was decided that repairs of the old lighthouse would be too expensive, so the current lighthouse was constructed in 1856. The new structure is built of granite and brick. The light keeper’s house now contains 3 bedrooms, a sitting room, a dining room, a kitchen, a maintenance room and a cellar. The lighthouse has survived many storms including the Great New England Hurricane of September 21, 1938 where waves were breaking over the top of the tower. The lighthouse was automated in 1986 and now serves as a museum. It can be found on the National Register of Historic Places. Additional Lighthouse information: The station is open to the public year round, and offers great views of the ocean and Fishers Sound. A museum located in the fog signal building contains the fourth-order Fresnel lens used in the tower, but it is only open during the summer months.

• Watch Hill Yacht Club, 1 Ford Road, ☏ +1 401 596-4986. This is an exclusive club, but you can definitely take a walk along the water to look at all the beautiful yachts docked there. The yachts travel up to Watch Hill from as far as Florida! Many weddings are also held here, too. 

Do

Amusement

A view of Watch Hill Beach

• Watch Hill Merry-Go-Round, 151 Bay Street, +1 401 348-6007. Back in the village is one of the nation’s oldest merry-go-rounds called the Flying Horse Merry-Go-Round. Around 1876, the Charles W. Dare Company, a traveling carnival, came and built the merry-go-round and left around 1879, leaving the merry-go-round as a gift to the village of Watch Hill. Over 100 years later the merry-go-round is considered a United States Historic landmark and is on the United States National historic register of historic places. The merry-go-round is on the bend of Bay Street, under a wooden gazebo that has big, stone columns. Inside of the gazebo is the merry-go-round. It is called "the flying horse" because horses are suspended by chains and not fastened to poles, so when the merry-go-round spins, it appears that the children are flying on horses through the air. There are two rows of horses; a set of smaller horses in the inside and a set of larger horses on the outside. All of the horses were carved by hand out of a single piece of wood. The horses are simple, complete with a cracked leather saddle, reins, mane and tail. Each winter the horses are stored and restored after the exposure to the summer weather. The horses’ manes were real horsehair. Legend has it that back in 1879 when the it was permanently placed in Watch Hill, the horse of the caravan when he died, his mane was placed into one of the horses. The eyes of the horses are the original agate eyes from 1879. In 1993, a local woodcarver named Gary Anderson from Pawcatuck, Connecticut, cleaned the horses of fifty years worth of paint. Upon stripping the horses from the paint, he uncovered horses are actually hollow, like rocking horses. The thing that attracts many children to the horses is the brass ring game. Riding on the outside horses, youngsters can reach out and grab rings and collect them on the horse’s ears. However, there is one special ring, the brass ring, and to the person who grabs it, they get a free ride on the merry-go-round. The Flying Horse Merry-Go-Round is the inspiration behind two children’s books: The Brass Ring by Nancy Tafuri and The Flying Horses by Lynn Anderson.
• Watch Hill Beach You have to pay to use this beach. Watch Hill Beach is exclusive. Payment gets you an umbrella, parking, restaurant, and cabana use. Also, placed in the water is a black "dock" where people can swim to and play on. It is a big hit for the children.
• East Beach This is a public beach with no fee near the top of Watch Hill, This beach is pretty hidden: you have to walk on a sandy path from the road to get to it. This beach has great waves and attracts many surfers. If you are interested in a long walk, Misquamicut Beach, located in Westerly, is about a 30-minute walk to the right.
• Napatree Point This is also a public beach, next to Watch Hill Beach. Napatree Point is an official Conservation Area, protecting endangered species that inhabit the dunes, such as the Roaseate Tern, Piping Plover, Osprey, and American Beach grass. Be aware that no dogs are allowed on this beach May 2 through Labor Day, from 8AM - 6PM This rule is strictly enforced by beach patrol. After Labor Day, however, leashed dogs are allowed on the beach. Napatree is great for a casual jog--the length of the strip is about 1 mile. Napatree Point is the long stretch of beach and dune grass that help form ‘little Narragansett Bay’. The long stretch of beach is approximately 1.5 miles long. The term Napatree can be broken down into ‘nap’ (neck) of trees. The point was heavily wooded until 1815, when a large hurricane came and wiped out the trees. At the end of the point is Fort Mansfield, an abandoned military fort. It was built as part of several other forts on the Atlantic coast to protect New York City. Fort Mansfield was operational 1901 to 1909, then in 1926 the land was sold, and the military deserted the fort. In 1926, residential homes were built on the beach. When the Hurricane of 1938 came, the hurricane decimated the properties on the point, including the road that ran along the point. Only 15 out of the 42 people who were in their homes when the hurricane struck died. There are no longer any homes or roads on the point. Napatree Point is a nature preserves that is an excellent place to bird watch, collect seashells, swim, walk, or enjoy nature. Parts of the beach are closed in the spring, so the Piping Plover Birds’ nests are not disturbed; after all piping plovers are federally endangered. Napatree point is also home to ospreys. The Watch Hill Conservancy works with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the plovers and the rest of the wildlife.
• Sport fishing on the Bonita II, Captain Tim Terranova, +1 401 596-6433, For those hardcore fishers out there, take a trip on the Bonita II! Catch bass, blue fish, marlin, tuna, swordfish offshore. This activity is sponsored by Watch Hill Outfitters. The dock is to the right of Watch Hill Yacht Club.

Arts

• Lilly Pad Gallery, 1 Bay Street, ☏ +1 401 596-3426. This art gallery features landscape, still life, figure, marine, and abstract art. Local art and artists are also featured in the annual "Local Color" exhibit. Lilly Pad also has family activities, too, with summer art classes for children. 
• Ocean House (1 Bluff Ave.).

Buy

Most of the stores in Watch Hill are in a shopping plaza called Larkin Square, comprised of Bay Street and a tiny street called Fort Road. Along with the stores listed below, there is Comina, Island Outfitters, the Sunglasses Shop, Elle Summers Shoes, Hall Marine Supply, Coppola's, Kisses, Yvonne's, J.C.'s of Watch Hill, Aqua Shop, and Seaport Next Door. There is 2-hour parking along both Bay Street and Fort Road. Larkin Square is a great place to grab a cool drink, buy a Watch Hill sweatshirt, or enjoy an upscale dining experience.

Jewelry

• T.L. Keller Jewelers of Watch Hill, 58 Bay Street, ☏ +1 401 348-0306. 
• James Gerrad Estate Jewelry, 92 Bay Street, ☏ +1 401 596-6530. James the Jeweler has been a staple in Watch Hill for many years. James hand makes his jewelry and accepts requests for custom orders on anything you can think of. He has an impressive collection of work and is truly a seasoned expert. There is a lot of time and work that goes into each piece of jewelry, so nothing in the store is of cheap quality, the price equally matches the workmanship that goes into each piece. James Gerrad also carries jewelry that is symbolic of Watch Hill. There are ornaments of the Ocean House, Watch Hill Chapel, Watch Hill Lighthouse, and the Watch Hill Carousel. Customers can design their own bracelets or use his ‘add a charm plan’. There is usually a $99 sale on particular items throughout the course of the summer. 

Bay Street and Larkin Square

Apparel

• Christina's Limited, 14 Bay Street, ☏ +1 401 348-9041. Only open in the summer through September. There is usually an annual sale at the end of the summer, in preparation for the off-season. Christina’s carries the line Free People and Lily Pulitzer. This is a relatively expensive shop carrying preppy and conservative clothing. The clothing is usually very bright with over the top prints. This shop definitely has a specific audience it is targeting. The clothing is very reminiscent of the vibe that Watch Hill gives off. Collared shirts and respectfully lengths skirts and dresses compose a good percentage of Christina’s. Christina’s has many loyal customers and clothing that is of very good quality. You get what you pay for and many of the pieces can be considered timeless (if this is your style), so if you choose well you can definitely get your money's worth! 
• Jan's Boutique, 2 Fort Road, ☏ +1 401 348-8306. Jan's is one of only two stores open in Watch Hill during the winter. You can buy jewelry, kid's clothing, and beach wear here. The apparel is on the expensive side, but worth it if you want a Watch Hill memento! Walk right across the street to see the Watch Hill Yacht club and a little further for Napatree Point! 
• Rochelle's, 114 Bay Street #3, ☏ +1 401 596-1035. Rochelle’s is next door to Bay Street Deli. Rochelle’s is a high-end boutique carrying lines that are mostly out of the West Coast. Most of the clothing is out of LA, Miami, and New York. Rochelle’s has a variety of shoes ranging from flats to stilettos. Some of the shoe brands are Poetic License, which is out of London, Klub Nico that are handmade leather shoes out of Brazil, and some of the Steven Madden Collection. The brand Sky is a huge seller in this store everything is 100% silk. This line is not sold in many other places in RI besides Nordstrom’s in Providence. Rochelle’s also carries a line of jewelry by Zoe and Sage. All of the jewelry is handmade with semi precious stones all dipped in 24 karat gold. The interesting part about the jewelry is that the jeweler takes leaves and coins from all over the world and dips them in gold. Seasonal Whispers is a jewelry company from New York that carries a wide range of bracelets, necklaces and rings. All of the jewelry contains Swarovski crystals and made of stainless steel so that they never tarnish. The jewelry can be described as very fun and hip. The floors are painted gold and dance music is always playing with cutting edge trendy clothing, and very pleasant sales associate waiting to greet you and help you with your purchase. Rochelle's Beach is the sister store of Rochelle’s and it is next door to Bruno’s café. This store is a blend of bathing suits, sandals, inexpensive jewelry and sunglasses, hats, women and men’s Sperry’s, Pure Sweaters, Watch Hill tee shirts and sweatshirts, casual dresses, printed tanks, shorts, and tee shirts. The Pure Sweaters are handknit one-of-a-kind shawls and sweaters with the trademark big buttons that Pure is known for. These shawls and sweaters come in a variety of colors ranging from pastels to bright shades of red and blue. The extensive range of bathing suits in Rochelle’s Beach is all mix and match. Rochelle’s has a very friendly and helpful staff. 

• Seaport Surf, Bathing suits are sold here and the primarily brands are Hurley and Billabong. The suits are not mix and match. This store also sells Reefs, which are a staple in a summer wardrobe due to the comfort of the sandal and its versatility in matching with many different outfits, its makes a very casual vibe for strolling around the village. Seaport Surf is targeted towards a younger audience.
• Small Axe Productions, 182 East Avenue, ☏ +1 401 596-7506. Small Axe is known for their "Bohemian" style of clothing. They sell lots of tie-dye, including long dresses and skirts. This store is very original. If you buy something here you won't find it anywhere else! 

• Gabrielle's Originals, 4 Fort Road, ☏ +1 401 348-8986. Gabrielle's only sells infant and children's clothing. High in price, but really cute! 

• Special T Etc, 66 Bay Street. Special Tees is a great place to get cheap, reasonable souvenirs from Watch Hill, a nice memorabilia from a day in Watch Hill. The sweatshirts and tee shirts make for nice gifts and most of the store has very practical clothing that will not go to waste. 

• Monelle, 6 Fort Road. Monelle is one of only two stores open during the winter. This is a tiny, up-scale boutique, offering designers such as Juicy Couture, Molly B, and Kate Spade. If you're looking for a prom dress, you might want to try this store for a unique find. Monelle is right across the street from the Watch Hill Yacht Club, and a stone's throw from Napatree Point. 

Beach wear

• Diane's Beachwear, 124 Bay Street, ☏ +1 401 596-3330. Across the street from the carousel. Only open May through Columbus Day. Carries beachwear, shoes, jewelry, and beach toys. 
• Seaport Surf, 106 Bay Street, ☏ +1 401 348-4007. This is a great store for teenage girls. Seaport Surf sells brand name bathing suits, clothing, and purses. 

Miscellaneous

• Book and Tackle Shop, 122 Bay Street, ☏ +1 401 596-0051. Open May through October. This is a great used book store offering antique books, especially about fishing and boating. Book and Tackle also carries postcards with local images, which are great for tourists visiting Watch Hill. There is a wide variety of children's books sold here, too. 
• Bay Breeze Interiors, 84 Bay Street, ☏ +1 401 348-0722. 
• Old Firehouse Antiques, 31 Bay Street, ☏ +1 401 596-5650. 
• The Basket Shop and More, 12 Fort Road, ☏ +1 401 596-8140. 

Eat

• Cafe Espresso II, 98 Bay Street, ☏ +1 401 348-0103. Gelato is a popular seller at Cafe Espresso. There are tons of different flavors that all taste amazing; mango is a favorite. They also sell all different types of coffee and flavored drinks, including classic Italian pastries. The strawberry-banana smoothie is to die for! 

• Olympia Tea Room, 74 Bay Street, ☏ +1 401 348-8211. Olympia is open seasonally in the Spring and Summer. The menu often changes, as the Olympia Tea Room supports the local fishing industry. It is also known for a wide selection of wines. Be sure to try the uniquely designed ice cream swan dessert; it's actually in the shape of a swan! 
• Bay Street Deli, 112 Bay Street, ☏ +1 401 596-6606. A gteat place to get a New England favorite, lobster roles. Served either hot or cold fresh lobster meat is mixed with mayo and butter and served on a roll. The deli is always packed in the summer and is in a tiny space that can get very hot, but the wait is worth it. Everything is made fresh, and this place has a mom-and-pop feel. 
• Seaside Cafe - Watch Hill Inn & Restaurants, 38 Bay Street, ☏ +1 401 348-6333. Seaside is open from June 20th to September 7th. Seaside Cafe offers indoor and outdoor dining. Eat out on the sunset deck for a beautiful view, opening right up to the water. The menu is limited and it is considered "high end" dining. 
• St. Clair Annex, 141 Bay Street, ☏ +1 401 348-8407. With a history that spans five generations, it has enticing assortments of ice cream and a popcorn cart. 

• The Candy Box, 14 Fort Road, ☏ +1 401 596-3325. Known for their amazing fudge and chocolate selection, the Candy Box is a popular pit stop for locals and tourists. They sell sugar-free chocolates and fudge. Along with delicious chocolates, the Candy Box sells a variety of sour and sweet candies sold in little plastic baggies that are perfect for the beach. 
• Maria's Seaside Cafe, 132 Atlantic Avenue, ☏ +1 401-596-6886. A Mediterranean restaurant and cocktail bar five minutes away from Watch Hill. Olympia Tea Room is the only fine dining, sit-down restaurant in Watch Hill, so it fills up very quickly. The “Maria’s” salad and the spinach salad with chicken are great. Maria’s has an extensive menu ranging from seafood to pasta dishes. 
• The Cooked Goose, 92 Watch Hill Road. The breakfasts are all generously portioned, and the coffee is fair-trade. The chef and owner of the Gooked Goose have worked in a restaurant in Paris. 

Sleep

Some inns have restaurants.

• The Inn At Watch Hill, 118 Bay Street, ☏ +1 401 596-0665. Near the end of Bay Street where it becomes Fort Road, it has an amazing view of the ocean from the front. 
• Watch Hill Court, 20 Bay Street,, ☏ +1 401 348-8273. 
• Watch Hill Harbor House, 5 Bay Street, ☏ +1 401 596-7500. 
• Watch Hill Inn & Annex, 38 Bay Street, ☏ +1 401 348-6300. This inn offers year-round accommodations. The annex is separate from the inn and includes the studios and townhouses whereas the inn is the main building. The annex faces the ocean and it has a closer view than most other inns within the Watch Hill area. 
• Breezeway Resort, 70 Winnapaug Road. Within walking distance of Misquamicut Beach, it neighbors the Victorian era seaside village of Watch Hill, and is central to the mansions of Newport, the seaport of Mystic and the marvel of Connecticut’s two casinos. The Breezeway is known for its modern accommodations, its peaceful, park-like setting and the personalized service. The guests have access to a pool and their own personal beach. 
• Pleasant View Inn, 72 Atlantic Avenue. The Pleasant View Inn is in the Watch Hill end of Misquamitcut Beach. The Inn is on the water, making for amazing waterfront views. There is a very nice bar atmosphere that attracts locals and the guests of the hotel making for a diverse, fun crowd. Next door to the Inn is The Andrea, which is an outside bar and oasis on the waterfront for vacationers and locals. The Andrea is always very busy and definitely not a quiet spot, but a good place for entertainment and mingling. 

Cope

There is only one public restroom in Watch Hill, behind the carousel. While restaurants would also have restrooms, those are generally reserved for their customers.